JP2867293B2 - Gaming equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a game machine represented by a pachinko game machine and the like, and more particularly, to a game device having a game area in which a game ball is played by a bouncing game ball. And a game machine that can execute a game using a storage medium storing the information of the game.

[Prior art] Conventionally, as a gaming device using a card, a card called a prepaid card, which has a valuable value similar to the amount of money, is purchased, and the card is inserted into a ball lending machine and converted into a game ball. After that, those used for games have been put to practical use.

On the other hand, the gaming device is of a sealed ball circulation type, the purchased card is inserted into a card reader provided in the gaming device, and the money amount information recorded on the card is converted into ball number information. A game device for playing a game with an enclosed ball based on numerical information has also been proposed. In this method, a predetermined number of game balls are enclosed as enclosing balls, the enclosed balls are sequentially sent to a repelling device to be repelled, the reclaimed game balls are collected, and then sent to the repelling device again. In this way, a predetermined number of enclosed balls are circulated and used for a game.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the following problems have been encountered in the conventional sealed ball circulation type gaming machine.

That is, in an actual game, the ball may be clogged in the inside of the game board, such as between obstacles on the game board surface, in an accessory, or in a gutter of the enclosed ball circulation device. In such a case, if the clogging of the game balls is in front of the game board, the ballistic clogging can be resolved by the player easily noticing and calling a clerk. On the other hand, if the ball clogging occurs inside the game board, the prize balls are not discharged in the enclosed ball circulation system, so that the player is less likely to notice the ball clogging. In addition, even in the case of a ball jam on the front of the game board, when the player notices the ball jam is delayed or intentionally (for example, when the ball jam occurs in favor of the player), the attendant is not called. There is. In such a case, the number of effective enclosing balls used for the game is substantially reduced, so that normal firing cannot be performed and the progress of the game may be delayed. In particular, if such a situation occurs while a character with a high winning rate is operating, the prize ball that should be obtained cannot be obtained,
It is disadvantageous for players. Also, if the ball is clogged inside the gadget or in the gutter that collects and detects the safe ball, the ball will be held without the addition of the prize ball, even though there is a prize and the prize ball can be obtained. There is a possibility that the game will end when it becomes "0". Also, leaving a state in which many game balls are clogged is likely to cause a malfunction of the game apparatus.

Also, in the case where the player does not intentionally call a clerk due to a ball jam on the front of the game board, the game shop may be disadvantageous.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and in the case where a ball clogged during the recovery of a bounced game ball, the game is deactivated and a player or a game is played. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming device that does not cause a disadvantageous situation on the store side.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a storage medium (for example, a card CD) having a game area in which a game is played by a flipped game ball and storing required information. In a gaming device (e.g., pachinko machine 100) capable of executing a game by using a game ball detecting means (e.g., a firing sensor SNS5) for detecting a game ball that is repelled in the game area, Collected ball detecting means for collecting game balls and detecting the collected game balls (for example, out sensor SNS1, safe sensor
SNS2,3, foul sensor SNS4), sequentially adding the detection signal from the above-mentioned game ball detecting means and sequentially subtracting the detection signal from the above-mentioned collected ball detecting means, and playing the game balls detected by the game ball detecting means. A floating ball number counting means (for example, a unit control device 180) for counting floating balls not detected by the collected ball detecting means; An abnormal state determining means (for example, the unit controller 190) for determining an abnormal state when the game has become abnormal, and a game inactivating means (for example, a unit controller 190) for inactivating the game based on the determination of the abnormal state by the abnormal state determining means. Unit controller 19
0, a launch device control circuit 194, and a hit ball launch device 103).

The game deactivating means deactivates the bouncing motion of the game ball.

Further, a notifying means (for example, a pachinko machine state lamp 162) for notifying the abnormal state determined by the abnormal state determining means is provided.

Further, the game inactivating means is constituted by a game execution suspending means (for example, the unit controller 190 and the accessory control device 158) for stopping the execution of the game at that time and suspending the execution.

[Operation] According to the above-described means, the game is deactivated when the number of floating balls exceeds a predetermined number. Therefore, even if a ball is clogged during the recovery of the flipped game balls, it is possible to avoid a disadvantage to the player or the amusement store, and to prevent a failure of the gaming machine.

In addition, since the bouncing motion of the game ball is deactivated by the game deactivating means, the execution of the game can be reliably stopped, and the disadvantage of the player or the game store can be reliably avoided. Failure of the device can be prevented beforehand.

In addition, since the abnormal state is reported by the reporting means, even if the ball is clogged where it cannot be seen, it is possible to make the player or the game store side (clerk) recognize the occurrence of the abnormality.

Further, since the game inactivation means comprises a game execution holding means for stopping and holding the execution of the game at that time, the execution of the game is held by the game execution holding means when an abnormal state such as a clogged ball occurs. Therefore, even if an abnormal condition occurs, even if a character with a high winning rate is operating, the condition is suspended at that time and the game can be resumed from that point by releasing the hold, so that the abnormal condition occurs. As a result, the prize ball, which should be originally obtained, cannot be obtained due to improper firing.

Embodiment FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a card-type gaming system using a pachinko machine as a gaming device according to the present invention.

The pachinko gaming system of this embodiment includes a pachinko machine 100 as a gaming device, a card issuing machine 200 for issuing a card CD as a storage medium, and a card settlement machine 300 for adjusting a prize ball obtained as a result of the game. And a management device 400 for centrally managing and controlling the various terminals, and a data transmission line 500 including an optical fiber cable or the like that organically couples the management device 400 and each terminal. An organic conjugate is formed. It is also possible to transmit and receive data between the pachinko machine 100, the card issuing machine 200, the card settlement machine 300 and the management device 400 using optical communication without using the data transmission line (optical fiber etc.) 500. It is possible, and when optical communication is used, complicated wiring is not required, and labor such as wiring connection is omitted.
The inside of the game store can be cleared, and maintenance and management can be facilitated. In the gaming system of FIG. 1, intervention is possible only by the card CD, and operation of the card and conversion of valuable data thereof are possible only by a system connected to each other. Therefore, the pachinko machine 100, the card issuing machine 200, the card settlement machine 300, and the management device 400, which are the components of the system, each have a card reader (in this specification, a card reader that writes data on a magnetic surface of a card is also referred to as a card reader). Card information and information on each terminal are stored in a storage device of the management device 400 in the form of a file.

Next, a card CD as a recording medium used in the system of FIG. 1 will be described.

In the card CD used in the system of the present embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, an amount display section PRT on which a purchase amount and the like are printed is provided at the center of the card along the longitudinal direction of the card.

Immediately above the amount display section PRT, there is provided a variable display section DSP for variably displaying the balance of the card and the number of balls held by numbers.

On the other hand, at a position slightly below the center of the card, a magnetic recording section MG coated with a band-shaped magnetic material from the front end to the rear end is provided. The magnetic recording unit MG records a card number, an unused amount (coincident with the purchase amount at the time of issuance), the number of balls held, a card limit, a security code, and the like.

Further, in the card of this embodiment, a security storage unit SCT provided with a special mark which cannot be identified by human eyes but is readable by an optical sensor or a magnetic sensor is provided below the magnetic recording unit MG. This security mark can be provided under the colored coating layer on the surface,
It is concealed by being inconspicuously hidden in the design printed on the surface.

The variable display section DSP is, for example, shown in FIGS.
By adopting the structure as shown in FIG. That is, a transparent plate 12 made of acrylic or the like in which the magnetic particles 10 are dispersed in the same manner as the substrate 11 in which the magnetic particles 10 are dispersed in the non-magnetic material is partitioned by partition walls 13a, as shown in FIGS. C) Honeycomb-structured spacer 13
And colored magnetic powder such as iron powder in the gap.
The high-viscosity liquid 14 mixed with 15 is sealed in advance. As the high-viscosity liquid 14, for example, silicone oil or the like, which does not change much over time, is used, and colored particles 16 such as titanium oxide are dispersed in the liquid to make the liquid cloudy to make an opaque liquid.

The variable display unit DSP having the above structure, when a magnet or the like is approached from below the substrate 11 to move the magnetic powder 15 in the high-viscosity liquid 14 downward as shown in FIG. The surface becomes white and is not displayed. On the other hand, when display is desired, a writing head having a large number of microelectromagnets arranged in a seven-segment, dot-matrix, or linear shape is approached to supply current only to predetermined microelectromagnets. Then, the magnetic powder 15 in the high-viscosity liquid 14 is adsorbed on the surface by the magnetic force of the excited small electromagnet, and landed on the back surface of the transparent plate 12. Then, when the writing head is released, a black dot rises only in the portion where the magnetic powder is adsorbed, and numbers and characters are displayed. Since the high-viscosity liquid 14 is sealed between the substrate 11 and the transparent plate 12, the magnetic powder 15 cannot move easily, and the display does not disappear even after being left for a long time. In addition, since the high-viscosity liquid 14 mixed with the magnetic powder 15 is sealed in the gap between the spacers 13 having the honeycomb structure, the magnetic powder can be prevented from moving in the lateral direction, and display unevenness can be prevented.

When it is desired to rewrite the display, once a large magnet is brought close to the back surface of the substrate 11 to move the magnetic powder 15 floating on the front surface side to the back surface side to perform erasing, and then the transparent plate 12
The writing head may be brought closer to the surface of the recording head. In the case where the writing head is composed of linearly arranged micromagnets, the display can be made to appear by moving the head or the card so that the head is sequentially attracted.

4 and 5 show examples of the structure of the card issuing machine 200.

The card issuing machine 200 of this embodiment includes a bill identifying device 210 for identifying bills for card purchase, and an issuing device 700 for selecting a card having an amount corresponding to the inserted bill, printing the issue date on the card, and issuing the card. And a bill dispensing device 230 for dispensing bills as change, and a unit control device 280 for performing data communication between the various indicators 221 to 225 and the control and management device 400 of the entire card issuing machine 200. Have been.

In correspondence with the above-mentioned bill recognition device 210, a bill insertion slot 211 and a purchase selection switch group 212
And an amount indicator 213 are provided. Therefore, when the player first inserts a bill from the bill insertion slot 211, the inserted amount is displayed on the amount display 213. Then, by pressing a switch corresponding to a desired purchase price from the purchase selection switch group 212, a card corresponding to the desired purchase price is issued from the card issuing port 202 of the issuing device 700. Each of the purchase selection switch groups 212 is constituted by a switch with a built-in lamp, and when a bill is inserted, switches that can be selected within the range of the inserted amount (three thousand, three thousand, five thousand yen, etc.). 5) are turned on.

When a bill is inserted from the bill insertion slot 211 of the card issuing machine 200, the purchase amount is determined by the purchase selection switch 212, and a balance is generated, the bill dispensing device 230 for refunding the balance stores the bill. It has a bill tank, and is configured to discharge bills corresponding to the balance from a bill payout port 232 provided on the front panel 201.

A front panel 201 of the card issuing machine 200 has an issuing lamp 22 indicating that the card is ready to be issued.
1, an issuance stop lamp 222 indicating a card issue disabled state, a bill insertion indicator 2 indicating whether or not a bill can be accepted into the bill insertion slot 211
23, card issuance display to notify card issuance status 22
4. A bill dispensing indicator 225 is provided to inform the dispensing state of the balance.

Further, the card issuing machine 200 of this embodiment is capable of distinguishing each of a plurality (several tens) of issuing machines installed in a game arcade so that the managing device 400 can identify the issuing machine that has issued a specific card. The setting unit 205 is provided internally, and the unit number set by the setting unit 205 is sent to the management device 400 to generate a transmission address at the time of data communication and for each issuing machine. Used to create data files.

On the other hand, the issuing device 700 selects the cards stocked for each amount in the plurality of card tanks 701, takes out the cards one by one, prints the issue date on the printing device, and issues an issue hole indicating that the card has been issued. Is opened, and the paper is discharged from a card issuing port 202 provided in the front panel 201. The purpose of making an issuance hole at the time of issuance is to make only a card issued by an issuing machine a valid card. In addition, a method of additionally writing a specific code on a magnetic surface at the time of issuance is also conceivable. Information on the issued card is stored in the management device 400.
To be recorded in a file inside.

 FIG. 6 shows a configuration example of the card settlement machine 300.

The card settlement machine 300 of the present embodiment has the inserted card C
A card reader that reads the card number and amount recorded in the magnetic recording unit of D, the number of balls held, etc., a printer that issues a receipt that prints the number of balls held by the game, various displays 303, 304, 341, 342, and card settlement Machine 300
It is composed of a unit control device and the like for performing overall control.

The card settlement machine 300 is configured such that an upper panel 301 is rotatable in the vertical direction. A card insertion slot 302 is provided at a front end of the upper panel 301, and a number of awarded balls (number of balls held) is provided on an upper surface of the upper panel 301. ) Is displayed, and an amount display 304 for displaying the amount of money when a prize ball is redeemed is provided. Moreover, the card settlement machine 300 of this embodiment has a flat top surface so as to constitute a counter installed in a pachinko parlor, and is provided with two sets of a ball number display 303 and a money amount display 304, of which One is inclined forward to make it easier for a game shop to read, and the other is inclined backward to make it easier for a staff member inside the counter to read. Also, near the upper rear of the upper panel 301,
A display reset switch 305 for clearing the display on the display to "0" is provided. When a player first inserts a card through the card insertion slot 302, the card reader in the card settlement machine 300 reads the card number, the amount, and the number of balls recorded on the magnetic surface of the card CD, and displays the number of balls indicator 303.
And the card number is sent to the management device to confirm the file, and then the printer issues a receipt on which the unused amount, the number of acquired balls, the history data and the like are printed. If the balance of the card after the settlement is zero, it will be confiscated in the internal card collection tank.

Further, the card settlement machine 300 of this embodiment incorporates a bill dispenser for dispensing bills and a coin dispenser for dispensing 100 yen coins so that prize balls can be redeemed or an unused amount can be settled. The front panel 306 has a bill outlet 322 corresponding to the dispenser, and a coin outlet 3 corresponding to the coin dispenser.
26 are provided. However, these devices do not necessarily need to be provided, and the settlement of unused money may not be possible. The reason is that the card with the balance can be used on the next day and at another game store.

Further, on the upper surface of the upper panel 301 of the card settlement machine 300, a settlement in progress lamp 34 indicating that the card settlement is being performed.
1. A payment stop lamp 342 is provided to indicate a card payment disabled state.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a pachinko machine 100 as a game machine to which the present invention is applied.

The pachinko machine of this embodiment is of a sealed ball circulation type, and each pachinko machine 100 has a card reader 420 and an analog lamp 105 for displaying the amount of balls in an analog manner as shown in FIG. An operation panel 110 for giving commands for terminating a game using a card, converting to a ball holding, and the like is provided at an upper portion of the pachinko machine 100, respectively, at a lower portion of the pachinko machine.

Further, inside each pachinko machine 100, an enclosed ball circulating device 130 and a hitting ball launching device 103 for launching an enclosed ball one by one into the game area are arranged, and an operation dial 1 is provided at the lower front part.
04 is provided, and above the operation dial 104, a money amount display 111, a ball number display 112, and a conversion switch for enabling a procedure for starting a game using the card.
An operation panel 110 provided with an interrupt switch 113, an end switch 115, a game state lamp 123, and the like is provided. The configuration of the game area on the front of the pachinko game board is the same as the conventional one.

The conversion switch 113 is provided within the range of the amount of money of the card assuming that the card is inserted into the card reader 420,
An instruction switch for converting this into a game ball in units of 0 yen or the like, and the converted game ball becomes the number of balls held. The remaining amount of the card is displayed on the amount indicator 111 in a unit of 100 yen as one unit, and the converted number of balls is indicated by the number of balls indicator 11
The number of balls is reduced by one each time one game ball is fired by the hitting ball firing device, and when a winning ball is generated, the number of prize balls is added and displayed.

The end switch 115 is turned on at any time when the player wants to end the game (including when the player wants to change the game console), so that the card in use is read by the card reader.
Can be discharged from 420. At that time, the card reader 420 displays the remaining amount of the player and the number of balls (the sum of the purchased ball and the acquired ball) at that time on the variable display portion DSP of the card and records the same on the magnetic recording portion MG of the card. Then eject the card.

In addition, the interrupt switch 114 is a switch used to temporarily stop the game for a break, although the player does not intend to stop the game at the game machine currently playing, and when this switch is operated. Then, the card reader 420 once ejects the card and waits until the same card is inserted again, during which time no other card is accepted. At this time, the remaining amount and the number of balls are displayed and recorded on the card and discharged. Among the above switches, the conversion switch 113 has a built-in lamp, and when the number of balls to be held becomes "0" when there is a balance remaining on the card, the lamp in the conversion switch 113 flashes to display a message prompting conversion.

Next, a configuration example of the back surface of the pachinko machine 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

The pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment is configured as a closed-type game machine that circulates and uses game balls sealed in the machine,
An enclosed ball circulating device 130 for circulating the enclosed ball is provided on the back surface.

That is, the prize ball collecting trough 131 covering a plurality of prize ball derivation holes formed so as to penetrate the game board corresponding to the prize area provided in the game area on the front of the game board,
It is attached to the back of the game board held. The bottom wall of the winning ball collecting gutter 131 is inclined downward toward the center to form a guide shelf 131a, and a guiding gutter 132 is provided below the guide shelf 131a. This guiding gutter 132 is an out ball gutter 132a as shown in FIG.
And a first save ball gutter 132b and a second save ball gutter 132c are integrally formed. In the middle of each gutter, an out sensor SN as a photoelectric recovery ball detection means including a pair of light emitting and receiving devices is provided.
S1, a first safe sensor SNS2, and a second safe sensor SNS3 are attached. The guiding gutter 132 includes a merging gutter 132d that collects the balls flowing into each gutter at one location.
The end of 2d is connected to the upstream side of the guide trough 133 which is gently inclined to align the pachinko balls in a line as shown in FIG. 9, thereby forming an enclosed ball circulation device 130. On the upstream side of the guide gutter 133, a foul ball receiving port 134 (the first ball) is provided at the upper end of the firing rail to collect a so-called foul ball in which the ball hit along the firing rail returns toward the rail substrate. (See Figure 11)
A foul ball gutter 133a disposed so as to face the fog ball is integrally formed, and the foul ball is guided through a guiding gutter 132 by a guiding gutter 133.
It is designed to merge with the ball that has flowed down. A foul sensor SNS4 is disposed in the middle of the foul ball gutter 133a as a collected ball detection means.

And, at the lower end of the guide gutter 133, there is a storage portion 135a for one ball, facing the lower end of the guide gutter 133, and a ball feed 135 for separating the balls on the guide gutter 133 one by one and allowing the balls to flow downward can swing. Mounted on A stopper 136 is fixed behind the ball feeder 135 to prevent the ball feeder 135 from rotating more than necessary.
When the ball 35 rotates downward by the weight of the ball that has flowed in, the upper end surface can prevent the ball from flowing down on the guide gutter 133. Further, a rotatable ball leveler 137 is attached in the middle of the guide gutter 133, and a slide type ball removing mechanism 138 is provided downstream.

As shown in FIG. 10, when the enclosing ball circulation device 130 is mounted on the back surface of the frame board 109, the ball removing mechanism 138 slides laterally by a blocking piece 148 protruding from the back surface of the frame board. He was blocked and could not remove the ball. The enclosed ball circulating device 130 is mounted so as to be able to rotate as a whole by a hinge portion 139 provided on one side (the right side in FIG. 10), and is rotated backward around the hinge portion 139. When moved, the ball removal mechanism 138
Slide to remove the ball. Moreover, the guide gutter 133
An elastic locking piece 133d is fixed to an end of the frame board 109. By engaging this with an engaging step portion 149 of the frame board 109, the sealed ball circulating device 130 can be fixed so as not to rotate. .

The pachinko balls separated by the ball feed 135 are fixed diagonally to the front of the frame board through the ball passage holes 139 (see FIG. 11) formed in the frame board 109 provided behind the operation panel 110. One of them flows down to the base of the fired rail 140. Then, the firing rod 103a is disposed so as to face the base of the firing rail 140 (see FIG. 12). At the same time, below the base of the firing rail 140, there is provided an interlocking member 141 having a push-up piece 141a which is rotated in conjunction with the firing rod 103a and pushes up the ball feed 135 upward.

In addition, a concave groove for guiding a sphere is formed on the upper surface of the firing rail 140, and the frame board 109
A fire sensor SN as a game ball detection means consisting of a fire type photoelectric switch that detects a ball passing on the rail on the front of
S5 is mounted by a bracket 142 at a distance of at least one ball from the top of the rail, and the upper end of the mounting bracket 142 of the firing sensor SNS5 is a return ball block that prevents the return ball from jumping over this sensor. A wall 143 is provided. Further, a foul ball receiving port 134 is formed in the frame board 109 corresponding to the upper end of the firing rail 140 to guide the return ball into the guiding gutter 132 behind the frame board, and the ball extends along the lower side of the foul ball receiving port 134. A receiving piece 144 protrudes.

In addition, on the upper end of the frame board 109, the mounting portion 1 of the game board is provided.
09a is provided, and game board positioning projections 145 are provided upright at both ends. Also, frame board 1
Along the top edge of 09, a frame 10 for holding the game board
A frame engaging portion 146 having a groove engageable with the frame 6 is formed, the frame 106 is lowered along the positioning protrusion 145 from above the frame board 109, and the lower end is engaged with the groove of the frame engaging portion 146. By combining them, the two can be combined. Further, the above frame 106
On the side wall of the game machine, there are four locking members 106a for detachably engaging the game board.
The game board held by the frame 106 is mounted on the mounting portion 109a of the frame board 109, and the fastener 147 is fastened and fixed. One side of the front of the frame board 109 (the left side in FIG. 11)
Is equipped with a speaker 150 that generates sound effects related to the game.

On the other hand, an operation panel 110 covering the front of the frame board 109
As shown in FIG. 12, one end (left end) is attached to the lower part of the opening framed by the holding frame 108c inside the front frame 108 so as to be openable and closable at a fulcrum, and on the back side thereof, corresponding to the firing rail 140,
A firing rail frame 151 positioned above is fixed, and a cutout 151a is provided in the middle of the firing rail frame 151 so that the firing sensor SNS5 can face the inside of the frame. Further, a lock lever 152 is provided on the back surface of the end of the front panel 105 opposite to the hinge. Above the front panel 105 in the front frame 108, a metal frame 154 for holding a glass plate is also attached to the holding plate 108c so as to be openable and closable. Metal frame switch 173 for detecting open / close state
Has been fixed.

FIG. 8 shows a state in which a frame 106 holding a game board and a frame board 109 are attached to the back surface of a front frame 108, and a prize ball collecting gutter 131 is further provided on the back surface of the game board held by the frame 106. Is mounted, and the frame board 1
Below the 09, a pachinko machine control device 195 is provided. Further, on the back surface of the frame 106 and the winning ball collecting gutter 131, there are mounted a character control device 158 and a relay board 159 as a game execution suspending means.

FIG. 13 shows a configuration example of the card reader 420.

A card insertion / ejection port 421 is provided at one end (the right end in the figure) of the card reader 420, and a photoelectric insertion detection sensor 431 for detecting an end of the card is provided near the card insertion / ejection port 421.

Further, a card traveling path 423 is provided inside the card reader corresponding to the card insertion / ejection opening 421, and transport rollers 424, 425 and a transport motor 426 are arranged along the card traveling path 423. A transport belt 427 is wound between the transport rollers 424 and 425 and the transport motor 426. Further, at the end (left end in the figure) of the card running path 423, a card reversal position detecting sensor 432 is provided.
In the middle of 23, that is, between the transport rollers 424 and 425, a sensor 435 for reading the security mark provided on the card and a magnetic head 436 for reading and writing data of the magnetic recording unit MG provided on the card are provided. It is arranged. Next to the magnetic head 436, a magnetic fixing device 4 for writing to a variable display section DSP provided on the card is provided.
40 and a magnetic body releasing device 439 for erasing the display of the variable display unit DSP are arranged so as to be opposed to each other across the traveling path 423.

In the card reader 420, when a card is inserted into the card insertion / ejection slot 421, the insertion detection sensor 431 ejects the end of the card, and based on the detection signal, the conveyance motor 426 composed of a pulse motor is driven, and the conveyance belt 427 is moved. The transport rollers 424 and 425 are rotated via the. Then, the card is conveyed along the traveling path 423 and taken into the card reader. The transport motor 426 is provided with an encoder 433 for detecting a rotation angle and a rotation position detection sensor 434. When the card is transported by a predetermined amount, the motor is stopped.

In the magnetic fixing device 440, for example, as shown in FIG. 14 (B), minute solenoids S1 to S7 each having a coil 442 wound around an elongated iron core (core) 441 are formed as shown in FIG. 14 (A). )
Has a head 443 arranged in a 7-segment shape as described above, and by selectively passing a current to a predetermined solenoid,
Arbitrary numbers can be displayed by adsorbing magnetic powder released in the variable display section DSP of the card onto the surface. The magnetic fixing device 440 may be provided with the above-described heads 443 for the number of display digits and perform writing of all digits at one time, or may be provided with only one head 443 and intermittently feed the card for one digit. The data may be written in order.

The magnetic material releasing device 439 can be configured by winding a coil around a core approximately the same size as the head 443 in FIG. 14 (B).

FIG. 15 shows a configuration example of a control system for a pachinko machine.

13, reference numeral 188 denotes a transport motor 426, a magnetic head 43, which is a component of the card reader 420 shown in FIG.
6. A card reader control device for controlling the magnetic fixing device 440 and the like. The card reader control device 188 is connected to a management device (to be described later) for the entire game arcade through a communication line, and is connected to the unit control device 18 as a floating ball counting device.
Connected to 0. The unit control device 180 is provided with a unit number setting switch 171 and a test switch 1 provided on the pachinko machine.
79, receiving an input from a call switch 165, a metal frame switch 173, and a front frame switch 175, receiving an analog lamp 163, a pachinko machine status lamp 162 as a notification means, and a safe ball lamp 16
4. Control the card insertion lamp 168 and the speaker 166.

Further, although not particularly limited, in this embodiment, the control device 195 of the pachinko machine 100 is connected to the unit control device 180 via the optical cable 191 and detection signals from various sensors are input, and the display device and the like are connected. A drive control signal is output. In order to enable communication using an optical fiber cable, an optical multiplex data link (interface) including a parallel-to-serial converter for converting parallel data and serial data, an optical-electric converter for converting electric signals to optical signals, and the like. Between the unit controller 180 and the optical fiber cable 191 and the optical fiber cable 191
And a pachinko machine control device 195 at the connection portion.

By using the optical fiber cable 191 for data communication between the unit control unit 180 and the pachinko machine control unit 195, many wirings that were conventionally arranged behind the pachinko machine are cleaned up, maintained and managed. , And malfunction due to noise can be prevented.

Under the control of the pachinko machine control device 195, the amount indicator 1
11 and ball number display 112, conversion lamp 12 in conversion switch 113
1, a game state display lamp 123 and a launching device control circuit 194 of the hit ball launching device 103 and a character control device 158 as game execution holding means are placed, and a conversion switch 113,
The signals from the sphere detection sensors SNS1 to SNS5 such as the interruption switch 114, the end switch 115, and the out sensor are shaped by the pachinko machine control device 195 and supplied to the unit control device 180.

The hit ball launching device 103 and the launching device control circuit 194 constitute a game inactivating means. FIG. 16 shows an example of the configuration of the pachinko machine control device 195.

The pachinko machine control device 195 includes a pachinko machine controller CPU1 composed of a microcomputer, a reset circuit RST1 that monitors a regular watchdog pulse output from the controller CPU1 and generates a reset signal when the pulse is interrupted, A multiplex transmission controller CNT1 having a parallel-to-parallel conversion circuit for converting parallel transmission data to serial data and a serial-to-parallel conversion circuit for converting serial reception data to parallel data to enable optical data transmission to and from the unit controller 180. And a photoelectric conversion circuit OET connected to the optical cable 191 via the optical connector 193,
A filter circuit FLT that cuts noise of detection signals from various sensors, decoders DEC1 and DEC2 that decode display data to the money amount display 111 and the ball number display 112, and a display drive signal are formed based on the output thereof. Driver DRV1, DRV2
And a driver DRV3 that forms a drive signal for the conversion lamp 121, the game state display lamp 123, the hit ball launching device 103, and a buffer BFF having a buffering function for input / output signals between the accessory control device 158. I have.

Regarding the processing of the detection signal from the sensor in the pachinko machine control device 195, the noise is simply removed from the detection signal, shaped into a fixed pulse width, and then sent to the unit control device 180 as detection data of a launch sphere, a safe sphere, or the like. . In other words, the pachinko machine control device 195 does not calculate the number of safe balls or the like, and such calculation is performed on the unit control device 180 side.

Similarly, the jackpot generation signal output from the accessory control device 158 is sent to the unit controller 180 via the pachinko machine controller 195, and the jackpot operation hold signal output from the unit controller 180 is sent to the pachinko machine controller 195. It is configured to be supplied to the accessory control device 158 through the respective components.

Furthermore, in pachinko machines, noise is likely to occur due to static electricity, etc.However, even if the pachinko machine controller CPU1 runs away due to noise etc., there is no periodic watchdog pulse due to runaway because there is a reset circuit RST1 that monitors the watchdog pulse And reset signal
Runaway is prevented because U initializes.

The watchdog pulse can be easily generated by an interrupt or the like from a timer counter inside the CPU.

FIG. 17 shows a configuration example of the unit control device 180.

The unit controller 180 includes a card reader controller 188 for enabling a pachinko game with a card, an abnormal state judging unit that comprehensively controls the pachinko machine controller 195, a game inactivating unit, and a game execution suspending unit. A unit controller 190, a data transmission controller 551 for controlling data transmission with the management device 400, and a network controller 553 for establishing a transmission / reception right in a network and performing serial / parallel conversion of data under the control of the data transmission controller. Have been. And unit controller 190 and data transmission controller 551
The transfer of data between and between the data transmission controller 551 and the network controller 553 is configured to be executed via dual port memories (RAMs) 550 and 552. Of these, the packet memory 552
It is divided into a transmission data storage area and a reception data storage area. An adjustment function to make all transmission / reception data lengths the same (packetization) and a high-speed data transmission (2.5Mbp)
s) It has a buffer function for measuring.

The packet memory 552 is composed of four pages each having a capacity of 256 bytes, of which page 0 is used for transmitting a transmission request packet and page 1 is used for transmitting a regular data transmission packet. On the other hand, pages 2 and 3 are used alternately for data packet reception. The data transmission controller 551 instructs the network controller 553 on which page to use. Data transmission controller 5
Even if the next packet data is sent during the processing of the received packet data by 51, all the packets can be received reliably because they are received by another page. A common reset circuit 555 is provided so that the data transmission controller 551 and the network controller 553 can be initialized at the same time.

The connection side of the network controller 553 with the management device 400 is connected to the optical connector 186 via a transceiver 554 and a changeover switch 542 which perform waveform shaping of received data and level conversion of a signal in order to increase drive capability of transmitted data. Connectable to a branch circuit 540 for separating and coupling a transmission signal and a reception signal via a changeover switch 542 so that the transmission line of the low-layer network can be configured with a coaxial cable. Has been enabled. The optical transceiver 185 shown in FIG. 20 is connected to the optical connector 186.

Further, a data transmission controller 5 is provided between the data transmission controller 551 and the network controller 553.
A latch circuit 561 for the network controller 553 to store the data reception result in response to a request from 51,
A data transmission controller 551 displays a latch circuit 562 for storing a command such as a data transmission command to the network controller 553 and a latch circuit 563 for storing a low-layer network address, and displays an abnormality in a communication control state in the unit control device 180. Is provided with a latch circuit 564 for storing display data to the monitor display 556 composed of three LED lamps. A decoder 557 decodes an address given to each of the latch circuits 561 to 564 and generates a selection signal.

On the other hand, a transceiver 571 for performing level conversion of transmission / reception data is provided between the unit controller 190 and the card reader control device 188, and a multiplex transmission controller for performing parallel / direct conversion of transmission / reception data between the unit controller 190 and the pachinko machine control device 195. 572 and the photoelectric conversion device 573 are connected.

Furthermore, the unit controller 190 has a data bus 5
Latch circuit that latches the display data (segment data and common data) of the monetary value and number of balls display via 81
574, a latch circuit 575 for latching a control signal for a purchase lamp, a game state display lamp, and a hit ball firing, a pachinko machine 1
00 and an input / output controller 576 for latching output signals for displaying various lamps placed on the data bus 581 at predetermined timing with input signals from various switches provided in the control unit 160; A latch circuit 577 for latching audio data and the like generated from the speaker 166 is connected.

582 is a voice synthesis LSI, 583 is a low-pass filter that cuts high-frequency components to improve sound quality, and 584 is an amplifier that adjusts the volume.The voice synthesis LSI 582 stores multiple voice data in a built-in EPROM. , Unit controller 1
Selects audio data according to a selection signal (S0 to S3) given from 90 and outputs an audio signal in synchronization with the start signal ST,
The output is stopped by the reset signal R.

558 is a program ROM storing a control program of the unit controller 190, and 559 is a transmission controller 55
This is a program ROM storing the control program of No. 1. 58
Reference numeral 5 denotes a decoder that decodes an address signal output from the unit controller 190 and forms a selection signal for the program memory 558, the unit memory 550, the latch circuits 574, 575, 577, and the input / output controller 576.

As described above, the unit control device 180 includes the management device 400,
The three sides of the card reader control device 188 and the pachinko machine control device 195 have information exchange windows, and under the control of the management device 400, perform control for causing a pachinko game to be played with a card, and as a game result It has a function of periodically transmitting generated pachinko machine game information to the management device.

Further, in this embodiment, a special RAM is used as the unit memory 550 such that when data is written at a certain predetermined address (7FE), a predetermined terminal INT rises.
Using this function, at the time of system startup, the data transmission controller 551 writes data to the above-mentioned predetermined address to start up the terminal INT, and inputs the signal of the terminal to the unit controller 190 so that the controller for use of the unit memory can be used. Synchronize. Note that the specific terminal INT falls when the unit controller 190 reads data at the predetermined address.

On the other hand, at the time of system startup, synchronization with the management device 400 is performed by the data transmission controller 551.
The data transmission controller receives the line test command transmitted from the management device 400, and
Done by sending to

By the way, as described above, the pachinko machine control device 195 does not calculate the number of safe balls or the like, and such calculation is performed on the unit control device 180 side. A detection signal relating to a game ball, such as a signal, and a signal from the purchase switch 113 are input. Based on these signals, the unit controller 190 calculates operation data such as the number of payout balls, the number of outgoing balls, the number of held balls, and the sales amount, and generates operation information (game state) and monitor information related to the pachinko machine. Then, they are written in the transmission data area of the unit memory 550 composed of a dual port memory.

Operation data and the like written in the unit memory 550
The data is transmitted to the management device by data communication with the management device 400 by the transmission controller 551. Also, the management device 400
Is sent to the receive data area in the unit memory 550,
The data is received by the 190 reading this. The unit memory 550 includes a communication area for storing commands and status information for notifying the other controller that other transmission data and reception data are in the memory, a working area for each controller, and an inter-controller synchronization area. Is provided.

FIG. 18 shows an example of a control procedure in the accessory control device 158.

This control flow is executed, for example, every 2 seconds by turning on the power and interrupting the timer.

First, the accessory control device reads the state of various switches, such as a power switch and a start switch of an accessory provided at a specific winning opening of the game board, and removes chattering, thereby preparing a format usable in the following processing. (Step S1).

Next, from the state of the read switch, it is determined whether to start by turning on the power or to start due to other causes (such as a timer interrupt or a reset). In the case of starting by turning on the power, the RAM is initialized (step S2). , S3). Further, at the time of activation by a timer interrupt or reset, whether or not the memory is normal is checked by checking a specific RAM area set by the initialization (step S4). If there is an abnormality in the memory, the RAM area is initialized again.

On the other hand, as a result of checking the memory, if the memory is normal, the process proceeds to step S5, and it is determined whether a hold signal has been input from the unit control device 180.

If there is no hold signal, step S6
It is determined from the input status of various switches and sensors whether or not there is an illegal operation, and if there is an illegal operation, the game does not start even if there is a prize in the starting port, and illegal processing such as abnormal display or alarm generation is performed. Perform (Step S11).

If there is no fraud, the process proceeds to step S7, and the solenoid, motor, lamp,
A game process such as comparison or calculation for operating the segment type display or the like for a predetermined time in a predetermined order is executed.

In this game process, it is determined whether or not a big hit state in which the variable display matches a specific state has occurred. Then, editing (step S8) for forming an output signal for driving the solenoid of the accessory, the motor lamp, and the like is performed, and a process of outputting the edited output information to the output port is performed (step S9). When the occurrence of a big hit is detected in the game processing of the snap S7, a big hit occurrence signal is output in step S9. After that, sound editing for outputting the sound effect specified in the game processing (step S7) or the illegal processing (step S11) from the speaker and the output processing thereof (step S10) are executed, and the process waits until the next activation.

If the occurrence of the big hit is detected in the above step S7 and the big hit occurrence signal is sent to the unit control device 180, and the hold signal is returned from the unit control device, the step S5
Then, the processing shifts to the standby state without executing the processing of steps S6 to S10. Thereby, the control of the accessory corresponding to the big hit is stopped.

Next, a specific control procedure in the unit controller 190 will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 to 27.

The processing in the unit controller 190 includes an initialization task after power-on or reset, and 10
There are two types of main tasks: timer interrupt processing based on an interrupt signal received from the timer every millisecond, and serial interrupt processing that occurs when a function is transmitted to and received from the card reader controller.

Of these, ten types of main tasks are repeatedly executed in real-time processing. Here, the ten types of main tasks are a packet reception task and a card reader control task, a packet transmission task, an error control task, a ball count calculation task, a switch detection task, a sound output task, a timer control task, a lamp drive task, and a port. There are 10 types of output control tasks. Among them, the characteristic management of the number of balls to be held, which is the object of the present invention, is mainly achieved by a sensor and switch detection process (FIG. 20) by a timer interrupt and a switch detection task (FIG. 23).

Hereinafter, processing related to the control of the pachinko machine will be described.

FIG. 19 (A) shows the procedure for timer interrupt processing, and FIG. 19 (B) shows the procedure for serial interrupt processing.

In the timer interrupt processing of FIG. 19A, first, the hot code (A55A) in the unit memory 550 is checked (procedure P1), and if there is an abnormality, the reset is performed. Is reset (procedure P2). Next, the internal R
After updating the timer prepared for AM, "FFH" is set every transmission by the data transmission controller and 20m
Check the watchdog counter in the unit memory which is decremented by 1 for each S (procedures P3 and P4). Here, if the watchdog counter is "0", it is determined that the data transmission controller has gone down, and the common signal for driving the segment type display is fixed and reset by the reset circuit 555 is applied.

If the watchdog counter is normal, the next sensor and switch detection processing (see FIG. 20 (A)) is executed, and then the switch detection signal invalidation processing (see FIG. 20 (B)) is executed (procedure). P5, P6).

Thereafter, the amount and the number of balls are read out from the unit memory and converted into a code.
Then, the segment data and common data of the ball number display 112 are formed and output, and the amount and the number of balls are dynamically displayed (procedures P7 and P8).

On the other hand, in the serial interrupt processing of FIG. 19 (B), when an interrupt is received from the transmission buffer or the reception buffer inside the unit controller 190, it is first determined whether or not the reception is interrupted. The received data is transferred to the internal RAM (procedures P11 and P12). If the serial interrupt is an interrupt from the transmission buffer,
A one-byte transmission process of converting byte transmission data into serial data by shifting the transmission buffer and outputting the serial data is performed (procedures P13 and P14). In the serial interrupt, an interrupt signal is automatically input to the CPU when transmission / reception data enters a reception buffer or a transmission buffer.

The sensor and switch detection processing during the timer interrupt processing (FIG. 19 (A)) is performed according to the procedure shown in FIGS. 20 (A) and 20 (B).

That is, first, the conversion switch 113, the interruption switch 114,
The on / off states of the end switch 115, the test switch 179, and the call switch 165 are read and compared with the previous states (procedures P51, P52). In the comparison of the states, for example, whether a state has changed can be easily known by performing a logical operation such as an exclusive OR. Here, if there is a switch that is newly turned on, the on state of the switch is saved in the internal RAM (procedure P53).

Next, whether sensor detection is in progress (procedure P54),
That is, it is determined whether or not “playing”, and if the sensor is being detected, the states of the firing sensor SNS5, the safe sensors SNS2, SNS3, the foul sensor SNS4, and the out sensor SNS1 are read and compared with the previous state (procedures P55 and P56). ). If there is a sensor that is newly turned on, the on state of the sensor is saved in the internal RAM (procedure P57).

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not drive control of the hit ball launching device 103 is being performed.If the drive control is being performed, the process jumps to the procedure P60,
If it is not controlled, the on-state of the firing sensor saved in the RAM in procedure P57 is invalidated (procedures P58 and P5
9). Then, if the firing sensor is turned on after looking at the data saved in the RAM, the counter provided in the RAM for counting the number of floating balls is added (procedures P60 and P61). If the firing sensor is off, the process proceeds to the next procedure P62 without incrementing the number of floating balls, and determines whether the number of floating balls is “0”. Here, if the number of floating balls is "0"
The ON state of the first safe sensor SNS2 saved in the RAM is invalidated (procedure P76), and if it is not “0”, it is checked whether the first safe sensor is in the ON state. If it is ON, the number of floating balls is reduced (procedures P63, P64). ), If the first safe sensor is off, the process directly proceeds to the procedure P65, and it is determined again whether or not the number of floating balls is “0”.

And if the number of floating balls is “0”, the second saved in RAM
Disable the ON state of the safe sensor SNS3 (procedure P7
7) If not “0”, check whether the second safe sensor is in the ON state and subtract the number of floating balls from ON (procedures P66, P6)
7) After that, if the second safe sensor is off, the process directly proceeds to the procedure P68, and it is determined again whether or not the number of floating balls is “0”. Here, if the number of floating balls is “0”, the on state of the foul sensor SNS4 safe in the RAM is invalidated (procedure P7
8) If it is not "0", check whether the foul sensor is on or not, and if it is on, subtract the number of floating balls (procedure P69, P70)
After that, if the foul sensor is off again, the process directly proceeds to the procedure P71, and it is determined again whether or not the number of floating balls is “0”.
Here, if the number of floating balls is "0", the ON state of the out sensor SNS1 saved in the RAM is invalidated (procedure P79),
If it is not "0", it is checked whether or not the out sensor is in the on state, and the number of floating balls is subtracted from the on state (procedures P72 and P73). If either of the above is valid, an instruction is made to reserve the hit sound and turn on the safe sphere display lamp, and then add (+1) the on-time counter for the valid on-state sensor saved in the RAM (procedure) P75).

Then, the flow shifts to the procedure P80 in FIG. 20 (B) according to the sign, and it is determined whether or not the number of floating spheres is larger than a preset value n. The set value n is set to about 7 in a normal game board, and the maximum stock is set in a gaming machine having a movable piece which temporarily blocks the flow of a game ball or a winning ball and allows a stock ball to flow at a time. What is necessary is just to make it the number which added "7" to the number (for example, 15 pieces).

When it is determined in step P80 that the number of floating balls has become larger than the set value n, the process proceeds to step P81, and firstly, a command is issued to the pachinko machine control device 195 to stop the drive control of the hit ball launching device 103, and then the pachinko machine The display by the machine status lamp 162 is changed from continuous lighting to a calling display such as blinking, and the output of a ringing sound by the speaker 166 is reserved (procedure P82).

Then, the signal from the accessory control device 158 is examined to determine whether or not the accessory is operating.If the accessory is not operating, the process returns to the original routine.If the accessory is operating, the accessory operation is performed to the accessory control device 158. After sending the hold signal for stopping, a command to change the game state lamp 123 and the like from continuous lighting to blinking or the like is given, and then the process returns to the original routine (procedures P83 to 85).

On the other hand, when it is determined in the procedure 80 that the number of floating balls is smaller than the set value n, the process shifts to a procedure P86 to determine whether or not the driving control of the hit ball launching device 103 is turned on. In the normal game state, since the firing control is on, the process returns to the original routine. On the other hand, it is detected that the number of floating balls has exceeded the set value, and the firing control has been turned off in procedures P80 and P81. Is less than or equal to the set value and the procedure moves to procedure P86, since the firing control is off, procedure P87
Move to. Here, it is determined whether or not the metal frame switch 173 is on, and if it is on, it is determined whether or not the front frame switch 175 is on (procedure P88). This is to prevent the game from being restarted with the metal frame and the front frame open.

Therefore, if either the metal frame switch 173 or the front frame switch 175 is off, the process returns to the original routine without doing anything. Then, if it is confirmed that both switches are in the ON state, the process proceeds to procedure P89, in which a command to start driving control of the hitting ball launching device 103 is given to the pachinko machine control device 195, and then the pachinko machine status lamp The call display by 162 or the like and the ringing sound by the speaker 166 are stopped (procedure P90). Then, it is determined whether or not the control by the accessory control device 158 is in a hold state in which the operation of the accessory is stopped.If the hold is not in progress, the process returns to the original routine. In response to this, a hold state release signal is sent, and in step P93, the display during stoppage of the accessory by the game state lamp 123 or the like is changed to the game state display, and the process returns to the original routine.

After that, the switch invalidation processing of FIG. 20 (C) is executed. In this process, first check whether the operating state is "playing",
If "playing", invalidate the on-state of the test switch saved in RAM (procedures P95 and P96). If not "playing", disable the suspend switch 114 and purchase switch 113 on-state (procedure P99) before the card. It is determined whether or not the state is “return to zero”. If the state is “return to zero”, the ON states of the saved conversion switch, interruption switch and end switch 115 are invalidated (procedures P97 and P98).

As described above, in the control of the pachinko machine by the unit controller of the present embodiment, the concept of a floating ball is adopted, and a ball obtained by subtracting the number of winning balls, out balls, and foul balls from the number of firing balls is used as a floating ball. It is regarded as existing in the game board, and if a winning ball or the like is detected such that the number of floating balls becomes “0” or less, it is invalidated. Thus, an erroneous detection signal due to noise or the like can be eliminated, and the calculation accuracy of the number of balls can be improved.

Next, an initialization task by the unit controller 190 and ten kinds of main tasks to be processed in real time will be described.

 FIG. 21 shows the initialization task.

The unit controller 190 starts an initialization task when a reset signal is input from the reset circuit 555 at the time of power-on or at the disappearance of the watchdog pulse,
First, the internal RAM is cleared, a check code is written to a predetermined address, and then an initial value is set in the internal register, and the I / O port is set to a predetermined initial state (procedures P101 to P103). Then, after setting a plurality of reference timers prepared in the RAM, the data transmission controller 551 waits for the rise of the initialization signal INT output by writing to the unit memory 550 (procedures P104 and P105). Then, when the INT signal rises, the setting number of the unit number setting switch 171 is read, the serial number and the channel number are calculated, and they are written in the transmission data area of the unit memory.
Wait for a "line test" packet from 400 (procedures P106 to P108) and test switch 179.
Check. If a "line test" packet is received, an "ACK" packet is returned to the management device and then to the main task. If the test switch is turned on before the "line test" packet is received, the test mode flag is set. To main tax.

FIG. 22 shows the procedure of the ball number calculation task among the ten types of main tasks of the unit controller 190.

In this task, first, it is determined whether or not a sensor is being detected, that is, a game is being performed by looking at a flag or a signal (procedure P181). If no sensor is being detected, a counter for counting the number of times each sensor is turned on is cleared (procedure P182). When the sensor is being detected, the firing sensor SNS5, the first safe sensor SNS2, the second safe sensor SNS3, the foul sensor SNS4, and the out sensor SN obtained in the processing of FIG. 20A according to the procedures P183 to P199.
Read the number of times each sensor of S1 is turned on,
The number of outgoing balls and the difference are calculated one after another, and finally, the total winning ball count is added to the hit calculation register (procedure P200).

FIG. 23 shows the procedure of the switch detection task among the main tasks of the unit controller 190.

In this task, a flag or a signal is first checked to determine whether or not sensor detection is valid (procedure P201). If detection is not valid, the interrupt switch 114, the conversion switch 113, the end switch 115, the call switch 165, or the test switch 17
Check if 9 is on (procedure P202 to P20
6). When any one of the switches is turned on, the corresponding process (see FIGS. 24 (b) to (e)) is executed. When the call switch is turned on, the status display lamp of the pachinko machine is turned on.
162 is changed to blinking, and a switch operation sound output reservation is made (procedure P219).

On the other hand, when it is determined in step P201 that the sensor detection is valid, the process proceeds to step P211 and the search timer (procedures P215, P215
217) is operating or not, and if not, procedure P23
The process proceeds to 1 to determine whether or not the number of balls of the playing card is “0”. If the number of possessed balls is not "0", proceed from procedure P231 to P2
The process proceeds to 35, where it is determined whether the value of the hit calculation register has become greater than a predetermined number of hits, and if less, the process returns to the procedure P202 according to the code A without doing anything. The hitting process (a) as shown in FIG.
Also, in the normal game state where the sensor detection is valid and the search timer is not operating, the procedure proceeds from P201 → P211 → P231,
It is determined whether or not the number of possessed balls is “0”. If the number of balls is “0”, it is decided whether or not the amount is “0” in procedure P232, and if the amount is not “0”, conversion request processing (procedure P234) )I do. Specifically, a reservation for outputting a sound prompting the operation of the conversion switch 113 and a reservation for blinking the display of the lamp 121 built in the conversion switch are made.

However, when both the number of balls and the amount are "0", the firing motor is stopped, the firing motor is stopped, and the search timer (10 seconds) is operated to set a flag indicating that the determination of zero return is being made. Then, the process returns to the procedure P202 according to the code A (procedure P233).

Then, the procedure again proceeds from the procedure P201 to the procedure P211 to determine whether the search timer is operating. If the search timer is operating, the procedure proceeds to the procedure P212, and the floating ball counter updated in the switch detection processing of FIG. It is determined whether or not there is a floating ball remaining. Here, if there is no floating ball, the process proceeds from the procedure P212 to P221 according to the code B, it is determined whether or not the return-to-zero determination is being performed, and then it is again determined whether or not the number of balls is “0”. The transmission reservation of the "zero" packet is made (procedure P230).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step P212 that there is a floating ball,
Proceeding to P213, it is determined whether or not the search timer has exceeded. If not, the process returns to procedure P201 and repeats the operations of P201 → P211 → P212 → P213 until the time expires. And when 10 seconds elapse while the floating ball exists,
Proceeding to the procedure P214, for example, the pachinko machine status display 16
Flashes 2 to display an illegal display. Normally, the time during which the shot ball is present in the game board surface is several seconds, and the number of floating balls does not become “0” even after 10 seconds because it is stuck in the middle of the board surface. When the ball on the board is removed during the fraudulent display and is inserted into the winning opening, the addition of the prize ball by the processing of FIG. 22 is executed.

Further, when the floating balls are exhausted, the procedure shifts from the procedure P212 to the procedure P221 according to the code B, and further proceeds to the procedure P222, where it is determined that the number of possessed balls is not “0”. The firing motor is driven, the flag is cleared, and the determination of the return to zero is stopped (procedures P223 to P225). Such processing is also performed when the floating ball wins the winning opening during the operation of the search timer and the number of balls held is added. Thereby, the game control is continued again.

If it is determined in step P202 that the interruption switch has been turned on during the execution of the above routine, the procedure moves to procedure P215, starts the search timer (for example, 10 seconds), suspends the ON state of the interruption switch, and returns to procedure P201. And procedure P2
In 01, it is determined that the switch detection is valid, and the flow shifts to procedure P211 to determine whether or not the search timer is operating. If it is determined that the search ball is operating, the process proceeds to procedure P212, and if the number of floating balls is “0”, that is, if no pachinko ball remains on the game board, the process proceeds to procedure P221 according to the code B to perform a zero return determination. .

On the other hand, if it is determined in step P212 that there is a floating ball,
Proceed to P213 to determine whether the search timer has timed out. Then, the process shifts to procedure P214 to perform an unauthorized display. When the ball on the board is removed during the fraudulent display and is inserted into the winning opening, the interruption process is reserved and the addition of the prize ball by the process of FIG. 22 is executed.

In addition, when detecting the ON of the interruption switch, the search timer is started, the ON state of the interruption switch is suspended in the procedure P216, and the interruption processing routine including the suspension processing routine is confirmed in the procedure P212 after confirming that there are no floating balls in FIG. 23. Since the flow proceeds to (B), even if a winning ball is generated immediately after the interruption switch is turned on, the addition of the prize ball by the processing of FIG. 22 is executed. When the suspension switch is turned on and the floating ball disappears during the search timer operation or when the ball on the board is removed during the illegal display and the floating ball disappears, according to the code B, FIG.
Shifts to procedure P221. In the procedure P221, it is determined whether or not the return-to-zero determination is being performed by looking at the return-to-zero determination flag set in the procedure P233 of FIG. 23 (A). It is determined whether or not the suspension switch is on hold by looking at the flag set in step (1). Then, when the suspension is being performed, the interruption switch processing shown in FIG. 24 (b) is executed, then the suspension of the ON state of the switch is released in the procedure P229, and the process returns to the procedure P202 according to the code A.

If the above-mentioned procedure P228 determines that the suspension switch is not suspended, the termination switch processing of FIG. 24 (d) is executed.

The search timer is started when the zero-return judgment starts (procedure P233), when the interruption switch is turned on (procedure P215), and when the end switch is turned on (procedure P215).
(P217) only.

On the other hand, when the end switch 115 is turned on, it is recognized in the procedure P204 of FIG. 23 (A), and proceeds to the procedure P217.
The search timer is started, the ON state of the end switch is suspended, and the process returns to the procedure P201. After that, the process proceeds along the same flow as when the interrupt switch is turned on, and if there are no more floating balls, the process proceeds in the order of P212 → P221 → P228, and the end switch process (FIG. 24 (d)) is executed, and the search timer is executed. But
If the floating ball remains even after 10 seconds, an incorrect display is made (procedure P214).

In this embodiment, although there is no particular limitation, even if the interruption switch or the end switch is turned on during the return-to-zero determination, if there is an increase in the number of possessed balls due to winning, the operation of the switch is made effective in order to make the operation of the switch P225. After the return to zero determination is stopped, it is determined whether or not the switch-on state is suspended by the procedures P216 and P218 (procedures P226 and P227). If the switch-on state is suspended, the interruption switch processing or the end switch processing is executed. ing.

FIG. 24 (a) shows the procedure of the stop processing (a) during the switch detection processing of FIG.

When entering the stop processing, first, it is determined whether or not the apparatus is in the test mode by checking the flag (procedure P581). After the number of hits is updated (+1) and the card status is set to "hit and free", the detection of the sensor and the drive control of the hitting ball launching device 103 are stopped, and the output of hitting sound is reserved (procedure P582- P587). Note that, here, the card ejection command has not been issued, but the “stop” packet is transmitted to the management device 400, and when the ACK is returned, the “card ejection” function is performed in the reception process. When the card is sent to a card reader and hit, the card is ejected.

On the other hand, if a stop occurs during the test mode, procedure P5
After shifting from 81 to P591, the card ejection function is transmitted to the card reader, the detection of the sensor and the control of the launching device are stopped, and then the clearing register for the test mode is cleared, and the display state of the lamp and the state of the lamp are cleared. After the operation information is changed to "stop", the output of the stop sound is reserved (procedures P591 to P597), and the stop state is set. The test mode takes into account that the test mode is executed even when the device is not connected to the management device and is offline. If a stop occurs during the test mode, the end switch 115 is turned on to shift from the end switch processing of FIG. 24D to the test mode end processing of FIG. Each of the processes is executed according to the type.

FIG. 24 (b) shows the procedure of the interrupted switch process during the switch detection task of FIG.

This process starts when the interruption switch 114 is turned on, and it is first determined whether or not the test mode is being performed (procedure P60).
1). Here, if not in the test mode, the process proceeds to procedure P602, in which the transmission of the “interruption switch” packet is reserved, and then the card state is changed to “interruption”, and the detection of the sensor and the driving control of the hit ball launching device 103 are performed. Stop and return to the original routine (procedures P603 to P605). The ejection of the card or the like due to the turning-on of the interruption switch is performed when an ACK packet corresponding to the above packet is received. On the other hand, when the interruption switch is turned on during the test mode, the operation information is updated, transmission of the card ejection function is reserved, and the display of the control stop lamp is changed in the interruption switch processing (procedures P611 to P611). P616). This is for offline test mode.

FIG. 24 (C) shows the procedure of the conversion (purchase) switch process in the switch detection task of FIG.

When the conversion switch 113 is turned on, first, an instruction to turn off the conversion (purchase) lamp 121 built in the conversion switch is given (procedure P621). This lamp is lit as long as the amount does not become "0", and is driven to blink by the conversion request procedure P234 in FIG. 23 performed when the number of balls becomes "0". The blinking is stopped at the same time when the conversion switch is turned on. Next, it is determined whether the amount of the card is “0”, and “0”
If not, the process returns to the routine of FIG. 23 (procedure P62
2).

On the other hand, if the amount remains, proceed to the procedure P623, read the conversion rate of the purchased ball, and then read the unit memory 55
The number of balls for 200 yen is added to the number of balls and the number of balls in 0 (procedure P624). Then, the frequency of the amount of money (the balance) is "-
2 ", the number of purchases is" +1 ", and the frequency of sales is" +2 "
Then, it is determined whether or not the amount has become “0” (procedures P625 to P628). Here, if the amount is "0", the conversion lamp 121 is not turned on, and if there is remaining balance, the conversion lamp 121 is turned on, and then the driving control of the hit ball launching device 103 is started (procedures P628 to P630). . Therefore, the conversion lamp 121 is temporarily turned off when the conversion switch 113 is turned on, but is turned on immediately while there is a balance. Further, when the player turns on the conversion switch 113 based on the conversion request sound and the display, the conversion lamp shifts from blinking to lighting or from blinking to lighting according to the amount of the card.

After the control of the hit ball launching device is started, the output of the conversion (purchase) request sound is canceled, the output of the switch operation sound is reserved, and the process ends (procedures P631, P632).

FIG. 24 (d) shows the procedure of the end switch process in the switch detection task of FIG.

When the ON of the end switch 115 is detected, first, the detection of the sensor is stopped, and then the drive control of the hit ball launching device 103 is stopped (procedures P641, P642). Then, the procedure P643
In the test mode, it is determined whether or not the mode is the test mode. If the mode is the test mode, the process proceeds to a test mode end process shown in FIG.
From the normal operation mode, the transmission state of the "end switch" packet is reserved, and then the card state is changed to "free" (procedures P644 and P645). Response packet for "end switch" packet when card ejection command or lamp display change
This is performed when ACK is received.

FIG. 24 (e) shows the procedure of the test switch process in the switch detection task of FIG.

When the ON of the test switch 179 is detected, first, the output reservation of the switch operation sound and the test card function waiting flag are set (procedures P651, P652). Then, it is determined whether or not it is offline. If it is offline, it makes a transmission reservation for the "card accepted" function to the card reader, and if it is online, it does nothing. That is, the transmission of the “card accepted” function is not performed. Therefore,
When online, the mode shifts to the test mode only when the acceptance of the card is enabled. However, even if the card can be actually accepted online (interrupted), the test card is ejected when the operation information is other than "free".

FIG. 24 (f) shows a specific procedure of the test mode end processing during the end switch processing of FIG. 24 (d).

When this process is started, first, all lamps are turned off, the detection of sensors and the drive control of the hit ball launching device 103 are stopped, and it is determined whether the device is offline or online (procedure P6).
61-P664). Here, if online, it is checked whether the operation information of the pachinko machine is “forced termination” (procedure P665), and if forced termination, transmission reservation of the “card cannot be accepted” function and output reservation of the card ejection sound are made, and the routine returns to the original routine ( Procedures P671, P672). When the card reader receives the “card cannot be accepted” function, the card reader ejects the held card and then enters a state in which the card is not accepted. In cases other than the forced termination, the display of the lamps 123 and 163 is changed to the customer waiting state, and then it is checked whether the operation information in the operation data area in the test mode is "stop" (procedures P666 and P66).
7). If it is a stop, the procedure jumps directly to the procedure P670, and if it is not a stop, the transmission reservation of the “card discharge” function and the output reservation of the card discharge sound (procedure P6)
68, P669), and then proceed to the procedure P670, change the display of the card insertion lamp to blinking, and return to the original routine. Therefore, the pachinko machine returns from the test mode to the “free” state of the normal operation mode.

As described above, when the player is in a stopped state, omit the procedure P668 (card ejection function transmission reservation) and proceed from the procedure P667
The reason why the process jumps to P670 is that the process is performed in the stopping process shown in FIG. 24 (a) (procedure P591), in order to avoid duplication of the procedure. Also, the procedure P669 (card ejection sound output reservation) is omitted at the time of the stop,
This is to prevent the ejection sound from being output when the card is not ejected. That is, in the test mode, when a hit occurs, the card is ejected at that time, and then when the end switch 115 is turned on, the process shifts to the test mode end process (procedure P643 in FIG. 24 (d). The reason why the card ejection sound is output here is that it does not match reality.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step P664 that the device is offline, the process proceeds to step P673, in which the transmission reservation of the “card cannot be accepted” function and the output reservation of the card ejection sound are made, and then the “offline at the end of the test mode” flag is set. It is set and it is checked whether the "reader error" flag is set (procedures P673 to P676). Here, if there is no reader error, the process returns to the original routine. If there is a reader error, the process proceeds to procedure P677 to clear the “offline at the end of test mode” flag and then “line test”.
It waits for a packet (procedure P108 in FIG. 21).

FIG. 25 shows the processing procedure of the sound control task among the ten types of main tasks of the unit controller 190.

In this task, "hit sound", "switch operation sound",
Check if there is an output reservation for "Card ejection sound", "Card reception success sound", or "Card reception failure sound" (procedure
P221 to P225), if there is a reservation, the data indicating the type of sound to be output and the output time are set in the internal RAM, and then the voice synthesis circuit (sound IC) 582 is reset to output the sound being output. Stop (procedure P231, P232). Then, the process shifts to a procedure P234, where a control signal is supplied to the sound IC to output the selected sound. Then, it is determined whether or not the set output time has elapsed, and if it is over, the output is stopped (procedures P235, P237). On the other hand, if the output time has not elapsed, it is determined whether the output sound is a repetitive sound, and if not, the output of the sound is stopped (procedures P236, P237). However, even if the sound output stop command is issued in the procedure P237, the sound IC does not stop sound output until one phrase of the sound being output ends, and stops at the end of the phrase.

If there is no output reservation for any of the above five types of sounds, it is checked in step P226 whether sound is being output, and if output is in progress, the process proceeds to step P235 to check whether the output time is over. On the other hand, when the sound is not being output, it is checked whether there is an output reservation of “search timer sound”, “purchase request sound”, “stop sound” or “forced end sound” (procedures P227 to P230). After setting data and time for designating a sound to be set (procedure P233), the process proceeds to procedure P234 to start sound output, and stops sound output when a time-over occurs. In other words, these four sounds are output after the other sounds have been output.

FIG. 27 shows the procedure of the timer control task among the main tasks of the unit controller.

This task manages two reference timers, 10mS and 100mS, which are the reference for the blinking lamp, packet transmission timer, ACK reception timer, etc., updates (decrements) the 10mS timer every 10msec, The 100 ms timer is updated every second (procedures P241 to P244).

FIG. 26 shows a processing procedure of the lamp display control task among the main tasks of the unit controller 190.

In this task, the safe bulb lamp 164, the P machine status display lamp 162, the conversion lamp 12
1. When the card insertion lamp 168 and the game status lamp 123 are updated, the display status is changed (procedure P251-
P255). Next, it is determined whether it is necessary to display “waiting for customers” or “stop display”.
163 is scrolled and all lamps of the analog display 163 are blinked simultaneously at the time of stop display (procedure P256
~ P259). Further, the necessity of displaying the number of balls is determined, and if necessary, the lamps of the analog display 163 are turned on in order from the left according to the number of balls (procedures P260, P261). In addition, the analog display of the number of balls is performed in a so-called log display in which the number of balls displayed by one lamp increases as the number of lit lamps increases. Further, when any of the "waiting for customer display", "stop display" and "ball count display" is unnecessary, the analog lamp 163 is turned off (procedure P262).

In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a card type pachinko machine equipped with a card reader and a sealed ball circulating device has been described, but the present invention does not enclose a game ball in the machine and a ball discharging device for each game machine. Open pachinko machine provided, also applicable to pachinko machines configured to hold a card during a game in a card reader and discharge a predetermined number of game balls to a supply tray by a ball discharge device by a conversion switch. can do.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention has a game area in which a game is played by a fluttering game ball, and can execute a game using a storage medium storing required information. A game ball detecting means for detecting a game ball which is repelled to the game area; a collected ball detecting means for collecting the repelled game ball and detecting the recovered game ball; Of the game balls detected by the game ball detecting means by sequentially adding the detection signals from the means and sequentially subtracting the detection signals from the collected ball detection means, and the floating balls not detected by the collected ball detection means. The number of floating spheres counting means, the counting result of the number of floating spheres counting means, the abnormal state determination means to determine an abnormal state when the number of floating spheres exceeds a predetermined number, and the abnormal state determination means Abnormal state And the game deactivating means for deactivating the game based on the determination of the above, since the game is deactivated when the number of floating balls exceeds a predetermined number, the repelled game balls are collected Even if the ball is clogged in the middle of the game, it is possible to prevent the player or the game store from being disadvantaged, and to prevent a failure of the gaming machine.

In addition, since the bouncing motion of the game ball is deactivated by the game deactivating means, the execution of the game can be reliably stopped, and the disadvantage of the player or the game store can be reliably avoided. There is an effect that a failure of the device can be prevented beforehand.

In addition, since the abnormal state is reported by the reporting means, even if the ball is clogged in a place where it cannot be seen, there is an effect that the player or the game store side (clerk) can recognize the occurrence of the abnormality.

Further, since the game inactivation means comprises a game execution holding means for stopping and holding the execution of the game at that time, the execution of the game is held by the game execution holding means when an abnormal state such as a clogged ball occurs. Therefore, even if an abnormal condition occurs, even if a character with a high winning rate is operating, the condition is suspended at that time and the game can be resumed from that point by releasing the hold, so that the abnormal condition occurs. Thus, there is an effect that the prize ball which should be originally obtained cannot be obtained due to the improper firing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of the entire configuration of a gaming system using a card-type pachinko machine to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a front view showing an example of a card used in the pachinko machine according to the present invention. FIG. 3 (A) is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration example of the variable display section of the card, FIG. 3 (B) is a plan view showing an example of a spacer of the variable display section of the card, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a card issuing machine constituting a card-type gaming system, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the card issuing machine, and FIG. 6 is a card-type gaming system. FIG. 7 is a front view showing a configuration example of a card-type pachinko machine, FIG. 8 is a front perspective view showing a configuration example of a back side of a pachinko machine, FIG. Fig. 9 shows an example of the configuration of an enclosed ball circulation device on the back of a pachinko machine. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the enclosed ball circulating device is mounted on a pachinko machine, FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing details of a base of a hitting ball launching rail, and FIG. 12 is a front panel of the pachinko machine opened. FIG. 13 is a schematic side view showing a configuration example of a card reader, FIGS. 14 (A) and (B) are front and side views showing a configuration example of a head of a magnetic fixing device, Fig. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a control system of the whole pachinko machine, Fig. 16 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration example of the pachinko machine control device, and Fig. 17 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration example of the pachinko machine control unit. FIGS. 18 to 27 show the task processing flow of the unit controller. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the procedure of timer interrupt processing. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the procedure of serial interrupt processing. Figures (A), ( ) Is a flowchart showing a specific procedure of sensor and switch detection processing in the interrupt processing flow of FIG. 18, and FIG. 20 (C) is a flowchart showing a specific procedure of switch invalidation processing in the interrupt processing flow of FIG. FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an initialization task which is one of the main tasks of the unit controller. FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a ball number calculation task which is one of the main tasks of the unit controller. 24A and 24B are flow charts showing the procedure of a switch detection task which is one of the main tasks of the unit controller. FIG. 24A is a specific example of the stop processing in the switch detection task of FIG. FIG. 24 (b) is a flow chart showing a procedure, and FIG. 24 (b) is a flow showing a specific procedure of interrupted switch processing during the switch detection task of FIG. FIG. 24 (c) is a flowchart showing a specific procedure of conversion switch processing during the switch detection task of FIG. 23, and FIG. 24 (d) is a specific example of end switch processing during the switch detection task of FIG. 24 (e) is a flowchart showing a specific procedure of the test switch processing in the switch detection task of FIG. 23, and FIG. 24 (f) is a termination switch processing of FIG. 24 (d). 25 is a flowchart showing a specific procedure of the test mode end processing during the processing, FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a sound control task which is one of the main tasks of the unit controller, and FIG. 26 is one of the main tasks of the unit controller. FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a timer control task, and FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing one of the main tasks of the unit controller. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a loop display control task. 100: Pachinko machine, 110: Operation panel, 113: Conversion switch, 114: Interruption switch, 115: End switch, 130: Enclosed ball circulation device, 160: Control unit, 18
0: Unit controller, 188: Card reader controller, 195: Pachinko machine controller, 190: Unit controller, 200: Card issuing machine, 300: Settlement machine, 550
... Unit memory, 551 ... Data transmission controller, 553 ... Network controller, 420 ... Card reader.

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A gaming machine having a game area in which a game is played by a flipped game ball, wherein a game can be executed using a storage medium storing required information. Game ball detecting means for detecting a game ball to be recovered, collecting ball detecting means for recovering a bounced game ball and detecting the recovered game ball, sequentially adding detection signals from the game ball detecting means and By sequentially subtracting the detection signal from the collected ball detection means,
Floating sphere counting means for counting floating spheres which are not detected by the recovered sphere detecting means among the game balls detected by the game sphere detecting means; Abnormal state determining means for determining an abnormal state when the number exceeds a predetermined number, and game inactivating means for inactivating the game based on the determination of the abnormal state by the abnormal state determining means. A gaming device characterized by: 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein said game inactivating means inactivates a bouncing operation of a game ball. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying unit for notifying the abnormal state determined by the abnormal state determining unit. 4. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein said game inactivating means comprises game execution suspending means for suspending and suspending execution of the game at that time.